Liquid-control cock



Oct. 30, 1928. 1,690,005

C. T. FORD LIQUID CONTROL COCK Fi led Nov. 19, 1923 Char/e5 7 fi'orei attozvlurf Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

, 1,690,005 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T.FORD,,OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMQIA.

tramp-CONTRO COCK.

Application filed Novemlier 19, 19 23. SerialNo. 675,764.

The presen invention relates to cocks for handling fluids, eithergaseous or liquid, and, as here shown and described for the purpose oi disclosingthe invention, is depicted as used iaconnection withfthe charging and dis p of containersjjlor lethal orother It will be, understood, however, thatit he adapte tenses otherthan the specific corset io-rth. For example,andas one other useot the invention, it is shown as applied to a main for the transmittal Eltllfilbff gaseous or liquid products.

Furthern' ore, the structure and design of the cockmaybe variedfrom that foundin this illustrative embodiment, andistill be within the rangeofmy invention. V

The object of this invention is to provide a cook otsuch construction that it may be utilized for charginga container from a suitable supplyfwhich may be usedIfor' discharging the gas stored in the container as itmay be i needed; which will prevent the escape of gas from, the container under normal conditions of pressure while the containers are in use, transport, or storage; but which, ifabnorinal pressures are generated in the container, .as, for example, byheat, and danger of explosion is imminent,;will automatically release and bleed the ofi',

In the us storage, and transport of lethal, oxiousmr enpensive gases, it is essential that 11 the containers be so constructed and so fitted with control cocks, that the gas may be readily charged into the contalner from a supply;

th at it may be readily discharged through the same cock; that danger of leakage be eliminated, and that provisions for relief if containor pressure runs upto the danger point, bemade. These are standard oiiicial requirements, and I. C. C. regulationsin connection with the handling of gases of these types.

I accomplish these objects by the cock construction which is illustrated in the drawings herewith, and which will now be described and claimed.

- In the drawings y 1 Fig. 1 isa plan View of tion. j I, J

Fig. 2 is a substantially central vertical section of the cock. i i i Fig; 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, showing a areo'ck of my invenmodified form.

4 is a similar sectional View showing a ji'still further modification.

Fig. 5 isa view showing-the application of i preferably, tapered. From eachend ot the body project threaded nipples 12 andlS, the threads on these nipples being preferably of different pitches. Projecting from one side of the body 10 is athird threaded nipple 14 for attaching the cock to a container, and thenipple lat has a passage 15 traversing it and opening'into the'key seat 11.

Mounted in the key seat ii is a key '16, here shown as tapered, and this torm is preferable, although other forms might be used, for the reason that, when inserted in the seatll, it fits snugly and givesa close turning engage mentof seat and key. The areaof contact between key and seat is considerable, ino'rder to give a suliicient length to ensureagainst creeping and escape of gas past the key; The

key 16 is'provided with a passage 17 travers ing it lengthwise for a portion of its length, and connecting bya radial passage with the passage 15 in the nipple 14 when the key is turned to proper position.

i The passage 17 may take various positions.

and directions, It may be formedcent-ra'lly of."the key"16, asin FigureQ; it may be incurred, as 111 Figure" 3'; or 1t may-be oft-Gem tered, as 1n Figure 4; The advantage of the irrangen'ient shownjin Figure 4 is that the" is. correspondingly reduced.

. While the relatively long key and key seat.

fitted snugly, as described, make for ellicient sealing against escape of gas, I have guarded still further against the possibility of gas leakage by providing each ofjthe nipples 12 andl3 with sealingcaps and 19.

These caps may take various forms,and are here shown as hexagonal for wrench en gagemcnt. The cap 18 will, by preference, have an openin QO'thrOugh which a suitable tool may be inserted to engage a socket 21 in the key so that said key maybe turned to open or closed position. Beneath cap 18 will be placed an annular packing of suitable material which will seal very completely the joint between the key and its seat.

The cap 15) may he a solid cap, such as shown in Fig. 3, with sealing material 23 beneath it, or it may he of the relief type 2i shown in Fl 2 and i. In the last mentioned form. there will be provided an annular packing; 25 surrouiuline the mouth of passage 17 and sealing the key and seat joint. and ad ia cent said packing will be a frangible disk 26. which, under excessive gas pressure. will puncture or break and relieve the container of bursting pr sure. To permit. escape of gas in event of l'racture ol' the disk 26, the cap 21- will be provided with a discharge passage 27 leading; from the mouth of the key pas tee 17 to atmosphere. Preferably the atmospheric coimection will be by way of laterally disposed passages 28 delivering at the edges of the cap. This increases capacity of discharge and diil'usion from the relatively large central discharge passage 27. and prevents also, direct jet discharge action through the top of the cap.

The threads on the nipple 13 will be so formed as to provide for coupling; a hose to the cock for charging or discharging a container. and may be made of different. pitch or lead from those on the nipple 12, so that danger of mixing; up and wrongly applying the sealings caps will be eliminated.

\Yhile I have shown the discharge passage and the ailing: caps as arranged with a view of using the small end of the key as the discharge end, it will be obvious that the discharge passages and sealing caps might be reversed so that the large end of the key would he the discharge end as illustrated in Figure 6.

This arrangement. where a taper key and seat is used. would have the advantage that gas pressure standing against the key would tend always to force the key into its taper scat. instead of tending to unseat it.

In use the cock will be titled to a container by screwing the attaching nipple 14 into a suitably threaded orilice in the container. ca re being taken. of course. that a gas tight joint is Secured. The cap may then he removed trom the nipple 13, and a hose leading from a suitable supply coupled to the nipple 13. The key 16 will then be turned to. the position shown in Fig. 2. with the nipple passage 15 and the key passage 17 in register. The supply of gasmay then be turned on and pass to the container through the cock until eontainer pressure has been brought. to the desired pressure. The key 16 will then be turned to close the nipple and key passages, and the hose uncoupled.

The nipple 13 may then have applied to it the solid cap 23 (Fig. 3), or the relief caps 24 (Figs. 2 and 4).

The solid cap 23 may be used under some conditions, but in transport or storage, the safety caps 2i are preferable. \Vith safety caps any increase in container pressure beyond a certain point, for example, increase by expansion under heat, will be auton'iatically taken care of. as described. and danger of explosion of the container done away with.

Alter the cap 24; has been applied. the key ill may then be turned to open position with pressure standing against the frangible element of the cap 24. In this condition, the container will be ready for transport, storage,

or use.

When it is desired to draw oil" the contents of the container. the key 16 will be thrown to cut'oll or closed position; cap :24 removed, and discharge hose attached. The key 16 will then be turned to discharge position and the desired amount of gas drawn oil'.

In Fin. 5 is illustrated the application of this cock to a main designed for thetransmittal of either gaseous or liquid materials. The main, which may be a gas or liquid transmitting: main. must be frequently, in tact generally. tapped, and the cock inserted while the main is full and under pressure. it is customary to attach the well known corporation cock under such conditions by means of appropriate tapping, machinery. In or der to adapt my cock to the ta ipin r of mains. the body of cock maybe provided with a pro- 'jection 29 at its top which may be threaded internally or externally. as here shown. to receive the cock insertinp tool of the tapping machine. This projection 2.) will he in line with the nipple 30 by which the cock is attached to the main 2S and threaded reverscly trom the threads on the nipple $10. so that the insertion and removal of the cock may be readily ItCt'Olllt'JllFlKVl. I

\Vith the cock in place, as shown in Fig. 5. it: will be observed that the delivery end 3! lies relatively close to the main. as distinguished from projecting from the top of the cock. as in ordinary constructions and from this closely adjacent delivery end the lead oil or service pipe 32 will extend. a suitable coupling 33 being provided for attaching the pipe to the delivery end of the cock. The advantage of bringing the delivery end of the cock and the lead otl pipe close tothe main isQthat these mains are laid in trenches "with lateral trenches {or the lead oil' or service pipes. which are connected with the cock. and by arranging for attaclnnent of the service pipe close to the main there is less leverage. and. consequentlyless danger of breakage, from the weight of the earth with which the main and service pipes are covered than where the ill:

III)

service pipe leads from the topof the cock body. y y

.l/Vith thisconncetion of course, the frangible feature'of the safety caps at the delivery end of the cock will be dispensed with as he service and the coupling member 32 are attached directly [0 the dc discharge end may be readily loosened or tightened soas to control, to a considerable extent, the seating of thekey. For exai'nple,

it the key should be difficult to turn, itfliuay be eased oil by turningjback slightly the sealing cap at thelsoeketedend of the lfiey, and,

conversely, if the key should be too loose, this sealing cap at-the socketed end'may be set up, or ti glitelnethso to bring thekcysnugly to itsseat. V i 1 'It will be noticed, ,l' urther, tha t the body of the cock is of such shapeand din'icnsions and so, related to the pro ect ng nipples and caps,

that'it is titted to receive a wrench for inserting or ren'ioving the cock. In the term here disclosed, the body ot tlie cock is made of substantially rectangular form although it Will be obvious that otherwrench ortool formations might be given to this body. he nipples and sealing caps, as shown, preter ably lie Within orat least do not projeetlaterally beyond, the boundaries the body portion, so that wrenchor tool strain is not imposed upon any of these parts, but is applied directly to the body. i V

Suchchanges as are mechanical and ob viously adoptions of equivalent expedients may be made from what is here shown with out departing from my inventionflff Iclaim: r

lilnaydevice of the classdescribed, the combination vvithabody having a. key seat therethrough and an attaching nipple provided with a passage delivering to said key seat, a key fitted closely to the seat and having a passage adapted to register with the passage in said nipple and delivering at one end of said key, and sealing caps at each end of said body portion to seal the ends of the key, one of said caps sealing the key passage.

2. In a. device of the class. described, the combination with a-body having a key seat therethrough and an attaching nipple provided With a passage delivering to said seat, a key'seated' closely tothe seatand having a passage adapted to register with the, passage in said nipple and delivering at one end of said key, and sealing caps at each end of said body to seal the ends of the key, one of 'Stt'ltl caps having means sealing the key passage and frangible under excessive pressure to re lease pressure therethrough.

'3. In a device oif 'the class described, the combination of a body portion having a tapering key seatt-herethrough and an attach mg nipple provided with a passage leading to the tapering seat, a tapered key closely'fi ting said seat and having a passage adapted to register with thenipple passage and delivering at the small *end ot' said key, a sealing cap secured to said body and sealing the large endotsaid key, a sealing ca la secure'd to said body and scalmgthe sma means frangible under excessive pressureto release pressure thercthrough.

' i. In a deviceo't the class described, the combination of a body portion having a tapering key seat therethrough and an attaching nipple provided with a passage leading to tliet-apering seat, a tapered key closely fitting aid seat and having a passage adapt ed to rcgister With the nipple passage and delivering at the smallend of said key, a sealing cap secured to said body; and sealing the large end of said key, said cap having an aperture therein to glveaccess to said key 1 end of sa d key, said last mentioned caphaving for turning, and a sealingcap secured to said body andsealingthe small end of said key, "said last mentioned cap having means frangible under excessive pressures to release pres sure therethrough.

In a device ofthe class described, the combinationof a body having: a key scat therethrough and a lateralpassage from said seat through the wall of said body, a key loo fitted closely to said seat and having a through passage from one end thereof-to the side wall of sald key and adapted to register with the lateral passage in said body, means for sealing and iolding said key in itsseat at one end, and means for: sealing the key pass sage and key at the other end. i a

6. In a deviceof the elassydescribed, the combination of a bodydiacvinga key seat therethrough and a lateralipassagefrom i-cl seat through the Wall of said body, a tapered key fitted closelyto said seat and having a through passage from one end thercofto the side Wall of said key and adaptedto register with the lateral passage in said body, means for sealingand holding said tapered key in itsseat at one end, and means for sealing the key passage and key at the other end.

I. In a device of the classdescribed, the combination witha body having a key seat, and alateral passage from said seat through the wall of said body, said body also having a combined filling and emptying nipple, a

key seated closely to saidseat and having a passage extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to register with said lateral pas sagein'saidbody, and to deliver to saidcombined filling and emptying nipple, and means associated with saidnipple and frangible under excessive pressure to release pressure thcrethrough, said means being removable for lit permitting the passageo'f a medium through said hey passage ineither direction.

8. In a device of .the .classdescribed, the combination of a body having a key seat therethrough and a lateralpassage from said seat through the wall of said body. a tapered key titted closely to said seat:- and having a through passage from one cnd thereof to the side wall of said key and adapted to register with the lateral passage in said body, means for sealing and holding said tapered key in its seat at one end, and frangible means for sealing the key passage and key at the .other end.

5). In a device of the class described the combination with a body having a key seat thercthrough and an attaching nipple provided with a passage delivering to said hey seat. a key fitted closely to the seat and having a passage adapted to register with the passage in said nipple and delivering at one end of said key. a tool receiving projection on the said body opposite said attaching nipple, and sealing caps at each end of said body portion to seal the-ends of the key. one of said caps scaling the key pa sage.

it). in a device of the clas described, the etunbimition with a body portion of exterior form to receive a wrenehand havinga key seat extending theretln'migh. an attaching nipple provided with a passage delivering to said hey seat, a keytitted closely to the seat and having a passage adapted to;ri. gister with the 'ii'issage in the nipple amt-delivering at one end ol the key. and sealingcaps at each end of said'body portion-to seal theendsot the key. said caps being sodisposed as not to project: laterally bcyond'the boundaries of said body portion. one olisaid caps having means frangible under excessive pressure 1 to release pressure therethrough.

11. 'In a device of the classdescribed, the combination with a bodyhaving an attaching nipple and a combined filling and emptying nipple. said bodybeing provided with a key seat communicating with said nipple. a key seated closely to said seat and having .a passage extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to register with the passage and both of said nipples, and means associated with said combined filling and emptying nipple and frangible under tXcessiyc pressure to Ft" lease pressure therethrough. said mean being removable for permitting the pas e of a medium through said hey passage in either direction.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a body having a tapered key seat, and a lateral passage from said scat through the wall oi said body. said body also having a con'ibined filling and emptying nipple, a tapered key salted closely to said seat and having a passage extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to register with said lateral passage in said body. and to deliver to said combined filling and emptying nipple at the small end of said key. and means associated with said nipple and [ran gible under excessive pressure to release pressure theretihrough. said means being removable for permitting the passage of a nn-dium through said key passage in either direction.

13. In a device of the class described. the combination with a body having a key seat therethrough and a lateral passage from said seat through the wall of said body. said body also having a combined filling and emptyiu; relief nipple, a key seattal closely to said seat and having a pass ge extending longitudinally thereof for registry with said lateral passage and with. said combined filling and emptying nipple, and a closure cap associated with said combined filling and emptying nipple for sealing the delivery end of said key and the passage theretln'ough.

14. In a device oi, the class dcs-zcribed. the combination with a body having a tapering key seat there-through and a lateral passage from said seat through the wall of said body. said body also having a combined filling and emptying relief nipple. a tapered key seated closely to said seat and having a passage extending longitudinally thereof for registry with said lateral passage and with said combined filling and emptying nipple at the small end of said key, and a closure cap associated with said combined filling and emptying nipple for sealing the small, end of said key and the passage therethrough.

;In testimony whereof I have hereunto set in i band.

l CHAR LES '1. FORD. 

